Traffic-signal control



L. P. ERNSTM TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL.

APPLICATION man mmza. 19:9.

1 ,3 1 7, 009 Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

LYMAN P. ERNST, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

TRAFFIC-SIGNAL CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed January 28, 1919. Serial No. 273,665.

- traffic signal control of simple, durable and inexpensiveconstruction.

More particularly it is my object to provide such a device located at acrossing above the path of traffic, and having means located out of thepath of traflic for controlling said device.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claim and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a signal traflic control embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view of part of the device.

Fig. 3 shows a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of the signal device proper taken atright-angles to the view shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a top or plan view of a portion of the device.

Fig. 6 shows a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5part of the device being omitted.

My device is intended to be used as a traffic signal on streetintersections.

The device includes two upright supporting members indicated in theaccompanying drawings by the reference characters 10 and 11, andpreferably located respectively on the northwest and southeast cornersof the intersection, out of the way of traffic.

Extending between the upper portions of the uprights 11 is a supportingwire or the like 12, the central portion of which is supported by bracewires 13.

I provide a collar 14 having oppositely extended arms 15 preferablyterminating in loops 16.

The loops 16 are fastened to the wire 12 by means of wires 17 or in anysuitable way.

Su ported by the collar 14 is a bearing mom er 18 having an external,annular groove in which the collar 14 is received for rotatablysupporting the bearing member 18.

The bearing member 18 has a central, vertical angular opening 19extending through it.

Slidably but non-rotatably received in the opening 19 is an uprightsignal supporting member 20 having on its upper end a collar 21, whichprevents the supporting mem ber 20 from drooping downwardly through thebearing member 18.

Supported on the lower end of the signal supporting member 20 are boardsor the like 22 arranged at right-angles with relation to each other. Oneof the boards has printed or otherwise marked on its opposite faces a.

suitable word such as the word Proceed, and the other of said boards orthe like has printed or otherwise marked on its opposite faces asuitable word such as the word Stop, as indicated respectively in Figs,

1 and 4.

Supported just below the board 22 is a receptacle 23 which should havetransparent walls of suitable colors.

Extending laterally from the bearing member 18, preferably at a ninetydegree angle with relation to each other are arms 24 and 25.

Suitably mounted on the upright 10 preferably 0n the northwest corner ofthe intersection, for better protection, is a cage or small house 26 forthe traflic ofiicer, which may have a top 27 and transparent windows orWalls 28.

Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the cage 26 is an uprightshaft 29, on which is a controlling handle 30. On the upper end of theshaft 29 are arms 31 and 32 preferably arranged at an angle of ninetydegrees with relation to each other.

The arms 31 and 32 are pivoted to links 33 and 34 respectively. Thelinks 33 and 34 are pivoted to the respective arms 24 and 25.

Secured to one of the boards or the like 22 is a cable or rope 35, whichextends upwardly over a pulley 36 on the bearing member 18, and thenceover a pulley 37 and thence to the cage 26 where it may be detachablysecured to a suitable fastening device 38.

In the receptacle 23 is an electric light 39 which may be connected bywires 40 with a suitable source of electric energy.

One of the wires 40 connects with a switch 41. in the cage 26.

shown' by dotted line in Fig. 1, which will "standing inthe middle ofthe street;

On the support 10 maybe provided ladder steps 42 for permitting easyaccess to the cage 26 by the traffic officer.

In the practical use of my improved trafiic signal device,-the device isinstalled in the manner hereinbefore'mentioned.

The traflic ofiicer can, by means "of the lever handle 30, rotatetheshaft 29 for there by operating the links 33 and '34: forimparting-rotation to the bearing device 18 and the signal'supportingmember 2O.

Hecan then cause the board having the word Proceed or its equivalentthereof, to be opposite one street, and the other board to be oppositeanother street, and can then,

when he desires, impart a quarter turn to the signal for giving theproper signals to the trafiic. V V 7 When the traflic officer leaves thecage 26 he may, by means of the loop or cable 35,-

pull up the signal device to its position indicate to the traffic thatno officer is "on duty.

i It will be obvious that the signal boardswill at alltimes be highenough not to interfere with the traflic.

In the day time the signal boards can be plainly seen,'and atnightthelight will give the desired signal.

The signal boards may be raised or lowered as-desired for indicatingthat the sig be free from danger of injury which exists when he standsin the street,

The signal is easier'to' see than the waving arms'of 'theoificer,for'theireason that it is higher thanthe officerfwould be standing inthe street, I V

' It is also much easier for pedestrians on the sidewalk to see, andthus makes for the safety of pedestrians. Y

The entire device. is not expensive and is V of simple construction, andafter installation the device'may be. used indefinitely;

The light on the signal maybe controlled from the oflicers cag Theproceed board or the like is preferably colored green with distinctlycolored letters and the corresponding transparent Walls of thereceptacle23 are also preferably green, While the stop board and thecor-V responding receptacle walls are preferably:

red. 7 V V The cage vmay have a seat and heating means if desired.

7 My device greatly reduces the strain on thetrafii'c; officerandenables to work longer hours without relief. 7 I

Some changes'may be made inthe con struction and arrangementof thevarious 7 parts of my improved signal device without departing from theessential features and purposes ofmy 1nvention,and it is my intentlon tocover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanicalequivalents which may be, reasonably intically with relation thereto, asignal device on the lower end of said signal supporting device, meansfor raising and lowering said signal supporting devlce, and means forim: in

parting limited rotation to said supporting member for rotating saidsignal device in any of its vertically adjusted positions Des Moines,Iowa, J-anu'aryl8, 1-919.

LYMAN 1 ERNST.

copies of thispatent-may Def-obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, I). c.

